Method of cleaning garments.



NI. E. MESSER.

METHOD OF CLEANING GARMENTS. APPLICATION man FEB. 2, 1915.

1,2? 1,599a melma July 9, 1918.

f autresmamon or' CLEANING aanname;

Specioation of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application led February', 1915. Serial No. 5,869.

To all whom 'it may concern.' v

Be it known that I, MAURICE E. MESSER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland Heights, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of CleaningGarments, of which the following is a specification; the principle of' the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The presentinvention relates to a process for cleaning fabrics, andl has more particular reference to the process commonly known as dry cleaning, in which clothes are treated in a mixture of gasolene and soap solution for the purpose of removing dirt and grease from the clothes without causing any shrinking of the same, or any dissolving ofl the matter in the cloth.- To the accom- Vplishment of the foregoing and relatedends,

said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the followin description set forth in detail one approved method of carrying out the invention, such disclosed mode, however, constituting but one of the various ways in which the prin ciple ofthe invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the apparatus which may be used for carrying out my improved process, such ligure being partially sectioned to show details of construction; Fig. 2 is a vertical section-through the discharge conduit; Fig. 3 is a horizontal secton through said conduit, on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig.A 4 is a section through the filter.

My improved process consists in maintaining a constant flow in the cleaningchamber, thus removing art of the used gasolene and suppl ing fresh). The gasolene, as it is drawn o is strained to remove buttons, filtered to take out the lint and hair, and then cleaned so that it may be used again, when it is returned to the cleaning chamber. The essential step in the process is the maintenance of constant ow through the cleaning chamber, which prevents many ofthe bad effects on the clothes, which are caused by the usual process. My improved method will be further explainedfafter a description of the preferred type of apparatus.

The preferred apparatus employs several ofthe features .now used in the art, there being provided a closed; cylindrical recept'acle 1, within which there is rotatably mounted ,a foraminous container 2, which is adapted to receive the clothes or fabrics which are to be cleaned. The receptacle 1 1s provlded with an inlet conduit 3, and a dlscharge conduit 4:, both of whichmay be controlled by suitable valves 5 and 6 respectively, which normally will be fully opened. Interposed in the inlet conduit 3 is a chamber 7 in which there is mounted a oat 8, controlling a valve 9, adapted to entirely close such conduit. This valve may be of any suitable type controlled by the liquid`v level inthe chamber, and the atterwill be so placed with respect to the receptacle that it will maintain the level in the receptacle. 1n the Idischarge conduit there is a secondchamber 10', in which there is disposed a screen or strainer 11, and adjacent to this strainer (see Fig. 3) is an aperture 12in the side of the conduit, which will be normally closed by means of a plate a pump 22 and returned to the system. In -95 v the conduit 30 beyond the chamber 10 there is interposed a chamber 32, in which there is disposed a strainer for the purpose of removin the lint which is taken out of the usual fa ric and carried away by the solution. This strainer is also adapted to remove any hair from the solution which comes out of fur oods when the same are cleaned.

-Any suitab e type of strainer may be used for this purpose, although preferably 1 use 'a fine cloth similar to that which is used for straining milk, such for example vas cheesecloth. The chamber 32 is also provided with a lateral aperture normally covered by means of a pivoted cap 34, which may be opened in order to move the strainer when desired for cleaning.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a section of the cleaning chamber 20. p brought to this chamber by means of a conduit 35 which is extended around the interior walls of the chamber and has closed ends, but is provided with a plurality of diagonally downwardly directed apertures 36 which are adapted to permit the discharge of the cleaning solution at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to the vertical. The means which are employed for cleaning the solution consist of a conicalshaped strainer 37, preferably of cloth, which is mounted at its top upon a suitable frame 38 and is provided with acover 39. The frame 38 has transversely disposed intersecting cross members, at the intersection of which there is mounted a conduit 40 leading through the bottom of the strainer and leading from the chamber 20 into the storage tank 21. This conduit 40 is permanently mounted in the chamber 20, the frame 38 being removably attached thereto at the top, while at the bottom of the conical strainer there are mounted two disks 60 and 6'1, one on either side of the strainer material, which are held in position on theconduit by means of a lock nut 42 which may be removed and the strainer bodily lifted out of the casing for cleaning and for renewal. Mounted beneath the conical strainer are a number of vertically disposed transverse vanes 44 which are for the purpose of preventing surging of the solution in the chamber, since if the solution is allowed to become quiet much of the dirt will settle outl r nd deposit upon the bottom of the chamber, when it may be removed through a drain conduit 45. The level of the .solution in this iltering chamber 20 is maintained below a given l'point by means of a safety discharge conduit 46 which leads to a storage tank (not shown). The conduit 40 is closed at its top and is provided with a number of lateral apertures 47 through which the solution when filtered is allowed to discharge.

The action of this cleaning chamber is as follows: The solution is discharged laterally from the inlet conduit against the sides of the conical filter, such discharge permitting a certain amount of the solution to immediately filter through the cloth and to then discharge through the discharge conduit. The remainder of the .liquid settles in the casing 20 outside of the conical filter and gradually seeps through the same, dirt remaining on the outside of the cloth from which it may be removed at intervals upon removal of the filter. The lateral discharge of the solution against the sides of the cloth serves another purpose, namely, thatof creating a slight circulation down the sides- The solution is similar to that already described, the most v common machine for this purpose being an ordinary laundry washer, which is then filled about one-half full of gasolene and soap solution. The clothes are within the inner container or hopper which is oscillated in either direction through one or-two revolu.

tions, thus causin `the clothes to be forced through the li'qui which secures the cleaning action.` The surface dirt on the clothes, which has not been ground in, is removed almost instantly in this way, but the operation is continued about twenty-five minutes in order to wash out all of the looser dirt. The clothes are then removed from the first machine, and are placed in a centrifugal extracting machine of well known type, to rid them of any remaining liquid and dirt and are then placed in the second machine where they are again washed with soap solution in order to remove the dirt and grease which has settled upon and worked into the creases in the cloth. The clothes are then removed and again placed in an extractor when they are given a rinsin in a third machine. The clothes are a thir time run through a centrifugal extractor to remove as much liquid as possible before dryin The disadvantages o the above method are that three separate machines are required for cleaning the clothes, and three separateV solutions or three separate baths in one machine. In order to avoid the expense of this machinery and the use of so much solution, many cleaners wash the clothes but once, in the original machine, in which event the Washing is continued for thirty or fortyl is in solution, and the lint which is washed out of the clothes when they are first cleaned, is drivenback into the cloth, and it is thought, although it cannot be definitely proved, that the line dirt is forced into the cells in the Wool fabric. It is known that when white or light colored goods are cleaned in this Way, they sometimes appear of an appreciably darker color when cleaned, although, of course, the color is evenly distributed and is in the nature of a dye. If this dirt and grease is once driven back into the clothes, and bein in suspension, is carried into the Wool fa ric, it can never again maratea *be entirely removed. A In this method, the

clothes are, it is true rinsed after the single washing, but this rinsing has no effect in.

removing the lint which is driven back into the cloth, and the dii-t which enters the cells in the wool fiber appreciably darkens4I the cloth, and also, of course, shortens the life of the fabric and makes the cloth more susceptible to stains and dust spots, and is unsanitary.

Both of the above methods have a common danger, which is that of explosion of the solution when the clothes are removed from the machines. It is well known that the present process of cleaning generates static electricity in the gasolene and saturated clothes. When the clothes are removed from the machine the circuit is broken the workmans body forming the ground of the circuit, often making a spark of sufficient strength to effect the ignition of the vapors that have become mixed with air at the opening of the machine. This has already been a source of numerous fires and explosions in this industry, and is common to both of the methods above described.

In my improved process, I secure a much bet-ter cleaning than can be secured in the iirst or second method referred to above, and at less expense, and with less apparatus and solution than is used in the first process mentioned. In the present process the gasoleiie is caused to move continuously through the receptacle, fresh gasolene being supplied continuously, and the Old or used gasolene being drawn off at the same rate.

This is assured by means of the float-valvecontrolling the liow of the gasolene through the conduit 3. This constant change pre.- vents the solution from being dangerously charged with electricity. The clothes are first immersed in the liquid, and sincethe valves 5` and 6 are both open in the apparatus, gasolene is allowedto flow in through the inlet conduit at the same rate that the used gasolene Hows out through the discharge conduit.

My entire process consists in first placing the clothes in the container, flooding the same with gasolene and soap solution to the desired level, when the discharge valve 6 is opened, permitting the gasolene to drain away. The container is then moved in such a way as to force the clothes through the liquid, the soap solution and gasolene thus being given an opportunity to wash out all of the dirt and grease from the fabric, but the solution is kept comparatively clean, since fresh gasoleiie is being added continually. After this action has gone on for some fifteen or twenty minutes, the inlet valve 5 is closed and the entire amount of 'solution is drained ofi". The receptacle is then drained, and clear gasolene is supplied purpose, since if the machines are drained when the solution contains the dirt which has been removed from theclothes, this dirt would merely deposit on the clothes, and

they would be in practically the, same .state as before cleaning.

A serious difficulty which is met with in all methods of dry cleaning, is that the buttons from theclothescome ofi', and in the existing apparatus it is ve diiicult to recover these buttons, since al of them do not drain into the discharge pipe on the same day that the clothes are cleaned. In the present machine the continuous dow from the inlet conduit to the discharge conduit carries the buttons which drop into the machine, into the latter conduit where they are collected against the strainer 11, and can be removed upon opening the plate 13.

My improved rocess comprises a method for improvin t e cleanin of the clothes by successive y removing t e used solution and simultaneously supplying an equal amount of fresh solution to the cleaning chamber. The process also involves a simple but effective method for kcleanin gasolene of all of the foreign matter which has been accumulated during the cleanin step, such cleaning being best accomplishe by means of successive filters as here used. The number and capacity of the various strainers and filters will of course be proportioned to the amount of solution which is desired to be withdrawn from the cleanin and can be so arranged that any esired rate of circulation can be maintained.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention ma be employed instead of the one explains change bein made as regards the steps or mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a method of dry cleaning vclothes in a single chamber, the steps which consist in iinmersing the clothes ina cleaning solution in the chamber, forcing the solution through the clothes by former, continuously replacing the solution with solution by drawing oli' solution from one point of the chamber and simultaneously supplying clean solution to the chamber at another point, then completely drawing off the solution and repeating the operation chamber,

movement of the latter in the.

steps which'consist in immersing the same in a cleaning solution, agitating the solution, v continuously drawing of a art of the solution, cleaning the same an then returning it to the origmal solution.

3. In a method of dry cleaning fabrics, the steps which consist in immersing the same in a cleaning solution, agitating the solution, continuously drawing olf a art of the solution, filtering the same and t en returning it to the orlginal solution,

4. Ina method ofdry cleaning fabrics,

same, and then returning it to the original.

solution. u

5. In a method of dry cleaning fabrics, the steps which; consist in immersing the same 1n a cleaning solution, agitating the solution, continuously drawing off a part ofthe solution, successively straining, filtering and cleaning the same, and then returning it to the original solution.

Signed by me, this 29th day of January, 1915.y l l t v MAURICE. MESSER.

Attested byz- Y HERMAN lE'mcnsrG, JOHN A. HERMANN. 

